Not The Same Old Thing
Kawasaki USA is kind of going out on a limb here with the new Z1000, if past naked bike sales are anything to go by. But the 2010 version is vastly unlike any of its predecessors from Kawasaki or any other Japanese manufacturer when it comes to performance. The biggest obstacle Kawasaki faces with the new Z1000 is convincing the American motorcycling public to look beyond the past performance history of naked bikes from the Japanese manufacturers (and any trivial mutterings about the new Z1000's Euro-intentioned styling), and discover just how much fun it is to actually ride. To address this, Kawasaki will be offering demo rides at various select events across the country; we highly recommend that you grab the opportunity to take one for a spin. Even our brief exposure was enough to show us that the new Kawasaki Z1000 definitely deserves a place in Kawasaki's American lineup for '10.
2010 Kawasaki Z1000
MSRP: $10,499
Engine
Type: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, four-stroke inline-four, four valves/cyl.
Displacement: 1043cc
Bore x stroke: 77.0 x 56.0mm
Compression ratio: 11.8:1
Induction: Keihin EFI, 38mm throttle bodies w/oval sub-throttle assemblies, single injector/cyl.
Chassis
Front tire: Dunlop D210F Sportmax, 120/70ZR-17
Rear tire: Dunlop D210 Sportmax, 190/50ZR-17
Rake/trail: 24.5 deg./4.1 in. (104mm)
Wheelbase: 56.7 in. (1440mm)
Fuel capacity: 4.0 gal. (15L)
Claimed wet weight: 481 lb. (218kg) full fuel, ready to ride